Last week I visited Bubble, the children’s clothing and gift trade show. I managed to drop the kids and school and then jump on the northern line up to Islington. After a good look around, I grabbed a sandwich from a well known chain, and then hopped back on the northern line home, and in time to pick the kids up from school.
It is a constant balance between picking up the kids and work and I know it can be tricky to get everything done. Therefore, this year I was so impressed to meet so many mothers who are not only balancing childcare and work, but actually bringing their products to market, and they are doing really well! I am using this post to celebrate their achievements in the work place, and how their children are more often than not the inspiration for their businesses. Keep it up Mamas! You are all doing a great job.
My word of the week is HARDWORKING!
The Magic Door Store
Sarah Tollit used to be an event manager, but when her children came along she had to put this on hold. As she immersed herself into the world of children, she found herself increasingly making up stories about fairies and elves who used to live at the bottom of their garden. Sometimes, they entered the house (for reasons such as collecting teeth etc) so Sarah dreamt up the idea that they needed a door to enter by.
The door provides access for all your fairy and elf visits and comes with a note and sparkle to attract your fairy to your home. I particularly loved this product as the door is based on a London door! Also, this door is not associated with the American Elf on Shelf, there is no stick for the child to behave or do lots of strange things with your elf / fairy within the home, it is merely a tool to get your children’s imagination with elves and fairies working into overtime!
For more information on this product, please visit www.themagicdoorstore.com
Holly Hastie
Holly was formerly a women’s wear with Jigsaw. When her daughter came along, she watched how she loved to dress up – even if she was going to the beach on a winters day. She felt the market lacked good quality day wear, which also was not leggings and a top! This provided her with the inspiration to launch her brand for girls 2-9 years.
The collection is fun and quirky – it has an Edwardian seaside theme. A theme obviously enhanced by their immediate environment, as Holly works from her beach-side studio in The Gower. I am insanely jealous of this – The Gower is a hidden gem of a coastline; it is absolutely stunning. The clothing is practical and pretty – made from high quality European fabrics and super soft cashmere. It all goes in the machine too. So go on girls! Go climb trees, build sand castles and jump puddles – you can now do it looking stylish and keeping warm too.
For more information please visit here: http://hollyhastie.com/
Lala and Bea
Lala and Bea is run by two mothers and friends who both used to work in fashion and retail. They combined their creative forces and their love of accessories, and working from their homes in Clapham, they launched their company. Their philosophy is to create products that parents love but also the kids will want to wear! Therefore, traditional patterns are used in a fun, quirky way. The hats are simply beautiful – very eye catching, and also made from 100% merino wool. Speaking to Caroline at Bubble, she said not only are the hats fun and attractive – they also make spotting your child in the playground easy!
The pair have also launched a organic skincare range and plan to extend the range into pyjamas. All their products are made in the UK.
For more information, please visit: http://www.lalaandbea.com/
Piccalilly
Picalilly is an established brand of ten years. It was orginally started by a mum, Hannah Evans, who was looking for ethical and organic clothing that was a little more bright and colourful. Hannah had recently been made redundant from her job and seeing the gap in the market, she realised she could work from home in the Yorkshire Dales (no commute meant more time with her daughters) so she decided to launch Piccalilly.
The main philosphy of the company is making the clothes transparently: Hannah knows the suppliers of the organic cotton in India and visits them several times a year. She has even been out with her children, who not only have seen the process of how the clothes are made, but it also gave them the chance to have an amazing adventure.
The clothes go from newborn to age 8. It is not ‘fast fashion’ and very much focuses on age appropriate clothing. All the of the clothes have fun, colourful patterns and are good look clothes that also function – such as the baby gros, which have feet that turn up, no need to cut the feet off anymore!
For more information on Piccalilly please visit here: http://www.piccalilly.co.uk/
